Source: New Zealand Government
Families across the country can now access free, trusted parenting information through Tākai, the national parenting platform, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says.
“Raising children is one of the most important jobs any of us will do, and it’s important that parents can easily get useful, timely information they can trust,” Louise Upston says.
“Tākai provides evidence-based, accessible information for parents, grandparents and everyone else playing a part in raising a child.
“We know that what happens for a child in their early years shapes how they develop and how well they do throughout their life.
“By sharing trusted, practical information, Tākai gives parents and those supporting children access to free resources grounded in child development evidence, neuroscience and mātauranga Māori, to help our children thrive.
“Tākai helps deliver on two of the three priorities in the Government’s Child and Youth Strategy – supporting children and their families and whānau in the first 2000 days of a child’s life and preventing against harm.”
Tākai is funded through the Government’s $20 million investment in parenting initiatives from a Budget 2025 contingency fund. The same funding is also expanding two evidence-based parenting programmes, Triple P Positive Parenting and Mellow Parenting/Hoki ki te Rito and supporting a new initiative for families with the highest needs through the Social Investment Fund.
Tākai offers more than 900 pages of plain-language articles, activities, songs, workshop ideas, and other resources covering pregnancy through to age five. It also provides a programme of webinars and short online lessons for people supporting young children.
Among the new online lessons are videos fronted by Kiwi parenting and child development specialists, such as Brainwave Trust, covering the importance of early experiences and positive parenting approaches.
“A platform like Tākai doesn’t replace the specialist support some families need, but it means many more parents and caregivers can get good information early, helping set their children on a positive path to a healthy, fulfilling life,” Louise Upston says.
Tākai resources are available at www.tākai.nz.
Note to editor:
Tākai was named following extensive community engagement. The term refers to the practice of wrapping pēpi and tamariki to create warmth, closeness, security, and safety.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/29/free-parenting-advice-for-families-with-takai/